Alfred University Libraries to host free drawings for four pairs of EnChroma glasses for color blindness
Alfred University News Release
Alfred University is hosting an event in observance of September as International Color Blindness Awareness Month, in which it will give away four pairs of EnChroma glasses designed to help people with color blindness. EnChroma, the Berkeley, CA, company co-founded by Alfred University alumnus Don McPherson ’84 M.S., ’88 PhD, donated the glasses to the University.
People can register for the free drawings—hosted by Alfred University Libraries—beginning the first week of October, including Family Weekend/Homecoming, scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8.
There are several ways to enter to win a pair of the glasses.
Free chances to win one of the pairs of glasses can be submitted at Herrick Memorial Library and Samuel R. Scholes Library—from Wednesday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 8, during the hours of operation listed below—where interactive EnChroma displays will provide information on color blindness and how the glasses were developed. Anyone who visits the display—students and their families, staff, faculty, alumni, local community members—can enter to win. Entrants do not have to be present at the time of the drawing and winners will be notified by Monday, Oct. 9. Out of town winners can receive their glasses by mail.
A second drawing will be held during the 2 p.m. home football game on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Yunevich Stadium. A table will be set up near Connors Family Pavilion and spectators can enter for the drawing beginning at 1 p.m. The drawing will be held at halftime to allow the winner to claim their prize during the game.
Two final two pairs of glasses will be given away based on the results of a judged essay contests. Entrants will be asked to submit a brief essay of 150 words or less describing how obtaining a pair of the glasses would change their lives. Those entries can be submitted via this Microsoft form today through Sunday, Oct. 8. The entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges and the winners announced on Monday, Oct. 16.
Also during Family Weekend, during hours listed below, visitors can try on one of the pairs from the libraries’ circulating collection of EnChroma glasses. Herrick and Scholes libraries each have 10 pairs of the glasses, which can be checked out and borrowed for up to seven days.
Following are the hours of operation of Herrick and Scholes libraries during Homecoming/Family Weekend:
- Friday, October 6: Herrick: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 7: Herrick: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
EnChroma was co-founded in 2010 by Don McPherson, a co-inventor of the EnChroma lens technology. McPherson, who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in glass science engineering from Alfred University, serves as EnChroma’s chief science officer.
